Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 25: Year 1
Morning, Psalm 45; Evening, Psalms 47 and 48;
Ezra 5:1 to 17; Revelation 4:1 to 11; Matthew 13:1 to 9:
“Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!” (Matthew 13: 8 and 9)
I think what we are supposed to listen to with our ears is that our hearts and minds should be like the good soil. I have never heard it preached this way, “We are to be the good dirt.”
We must notice that all the seed is the same and therefore good. What really matters is where it lands. These seeds are like the gifts of God and faith in God, given to us to bring forth a harvest pleasing to God.
But like the diverse terrain upon which some of the good seed falls, some of us are not conducive to making the most of God’s gifts to us. Some of us are too shallow and provide no foundation for our faith and gifts. Some of us are too occupied with worldliness to make good use of God’s gifts to us, which would actually make the world we are transfixed by a better place. Some of us misuse our gifts for personal gain thus let our gifts go as if taken away by the birds.
But some of us, too few of us, actually receive and make good use of God’s good gifts and so, make our world a better place for all who dwell therein. May we all strive to be this good dirt.
Today we remember Simon and Jude, Apostles (October 28, NT) and their information may be found at: St. Simon and St. Jude
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray: A Prayer of Self-Dedication (BCP p. 833)
Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to thee, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly thine, utterly dedicated unto thee; and then use us, we pray thee, as thou wilt, and always to thy glory and the welfare of thy people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
onewhoponders 